PAPER PUMPKIN ALTERNATIVE IDEA

Good morning stampers!  Today I am sharing an alternative idea for using the My Paper Pumpkin kit from December 2015 (yes, I was a little busy in December so it didn't get done until now).  What is My Paper Pumpkin?  Simply said, it is a craft kit you get delivered to your house every month with everything you need included in the box, except your adhesive, to create beautiful projects.  The first month you even get an acrylic block to use with the photopolymer stamp set included in each kit.  For example, this kit (which was a 1-year calendar stand) included 12 stamps, an Ink Spot, 12 printed background papers (all the paper and cardstock is heavy weight), one sheet with over 25 die-cut flowers, 1 sheet of gold foil banners, 1 sheet of white banners, 12 calendars on heavy weight cardstock, 4 yards of gold and white twine, 4 yards of metallic gold thread, 75 adhesive dots, 75 Dimensionals, and 1 metal stand to hold the calendar!!!  Can you believe all of that in one box, for less than $20 -- the stamps alone are worth half of this, and you can use them over and over again!!  I decided not to make the calendar because I already had tons of them and really needed cards for my card ministry.  Yes, the majority of the kits are for cards but you will get some 3-D projects -- and ALL OF THEM ARE ADORABLE!!  If you are interested in getting a box full of fun each month, Stampin' Up! is having a sale until the end of March if you sign up for a 3-month subscription -- plus, you can pick out a free Sale-A-Bration product!!  A win-win situation!  Here is my alternative idea for the calendar:

If you are like me, there are certain stamps that you will always keep because they are timeless.  I made this watercolored bookmark using retired Stampin' Up! stamp sets on both the front and back, with watercolor paper and new Blackberry Bliss Ribbon (it was a special request from my daughter).  I love to stamp with new and old Stampin' Up! product, which never grows old for me!!

This is the back.  I laminated the entire bookmark so it wouldn't curl. 

Until next time,
Sandi

". . . Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."  --  Matthew 6:8

FEBRUARY RUBBERQUEEN MEETING

Hello stamping friends!

Sorry for the long break in posting, but it has been another busy month (does it ever stop?).  This week was our monthly RubberQueen meeting and, as usual our leader, Ronda Wade, had some amazing presentations and make'n takes.  If you don't know already, this is the time of year Stampin' Up! gives away amazing stamps and other product -- yes, FREE PRODUCT!!!  To see the fabulous Sale-A-Bration free product and all the new product in the Occasions Mini, check it out here.  There's not much time left and you don't want to miss out on this once-a-year offer.

Below is my swap card for the meeting, using the new Picture Perfect Stamp Set, from the Occasions Mini.  The gift cards and box to hold them were our make'n takes made with the free Sale-A-Bration Perfect Pairings Stamp Set and new Timeless Textures Stamp Set.

I love this stamp set and always wanted a Hummingbird in my bird collection.

Look at all the different designs using one FREE stamp set and the new Timeless Textures for all the cards

Until next time,
Sandi

"In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." -- Proverbs 3:6

SAYING GOODBYE TO HOLIDAYS AND HELLO TO OCCASIONS

Well it is time to get back to reality now that the holidays are over.  It has been a whirlwind making gifts, attending events, and celebrating.  But, even though it was busy, I had a great time making memories and doing a lot of crafting.  Today I'm saying goodbye to a favorite stamp that will be gone at midnight (your last chance to order), and saying hello to a few new stamp sets you can purchase later tomorrow from new Occasions Mini Catalog.  I hate saying goodbye to my favorites; but one thing we can always count on: there are always new and beautiful product around the corner from Stampin' Up!

I had to show you one more Christmas card -- just because he is cute!!

I am so sad the Wonderland Stamp Set is retiring after today.  Besides using the pine trees from this set, I used the Watercolor Wash Background Stamp.



Another sample using the Wonderland Stamp Set.  The background was stamped using the You've Got This Stamp Set.  I stamped the trees twice; first using my favorite green ink, Wild Wasabi, and then Garden Green.  I love this card!!

You can get this stamp set (Honeycomb Happiness) free with a $50 order, from the 2016 Sale-A-Bration Mini, starting tomorrow.

Buy the new Party Wishes Stamp Set, Party Punch Pack, It's My Party Designer Series Paper Stack, Baker's Twine Combo Pack, and Card Stock to earn 2 free products from the Sale-A-Bration Mini!!

Until next time,
Sandi

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."  --  Matthew 11:28

MORE OF THIS AND THAT ALBUM

Well, I did it!!!  I worked right up until the day before my great-granddaughter's birthday party and finished her album.  I still can't believe I stuck with it, even though I was trying to prepare for the holidays.  Did you know that there are 62 pages in one of Stampin' Up's! This and That albums?  I'm sure glad I didn't count the pages until I finished, as I probably would have been overwhelmed.  And yes, you can still get this album from Stampin' Up, under the Clearance Rack -- so very worth the price and perfect for a project like this.  You really don't have to do anything but attach your pictures and it will still look beautiful with the page designs.  I just did mine different because her mother (my granddaughter) loves vintage (just like me), so I tried to incorporate a lot of pages keeping that in mind.  I so hated giving it up, but here are a few more pages (a lot of the product is discontinued, but the design is there for copying):

Until next time,
Sandi

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world may be saved by Him."  --  John 3:17

ALL ABOUT CHRISTMAS WITH STAMPIN' UP!

Yes, I have been having a holly, jolly time playing with my new Christmas stamps from Stampin' Up!  I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving -- I know I felt very blessed and thankful to be with my husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  I have come to the conclusion (with the help of my bathroom scales) that the women in my family are all great cooks.  Yes, we patted ourselves on the back many, many times (the guys were all too busy eating).  Bottom line, we had a beautiful day and I'm back to business, crafting and making Christmas cards.  Here are a few I made this month:

I actually made this design last month while away at retreat as I couldn't wait to try out new product!!  Directions for embossing with the Woodlands Embossing Folder are from Patty Bennett: 

1. Lightly brayer some Lost Lagoon ink directly onto the Woodlands Embossing folder (the side with the raised background and "depressed" tree trunks)
2. Stamp some trees onto the folder with the Wonderland set and Garden Green ink
3. Punch out a circle using a post-it note, and put it onto your white card panel
4. Put the white card into the embossing folder, run through the Big Shot
5. Take the post-it note circle off the white card and VOILA! A winter tree scene with a moon!

Until next time,
Sandi

"For thus says the Lord God:  'I myself will look after and tend my sheep.'" -- Ezekiel 34:11

GIFT CARDS -- WE ALL NEED THEM!!

In this day and age we all need something to hold gift cards, and especially when the Christmas season is upon us.  For me, with a large family, this is my "go-to" gift, a beautiful card to hold a shopping, dinner, or event gift card.  Practically all businesses sell them, so for someone like me, who has a hard time shopping, this is the best way to match up the personality with the perfect gift card all wrapped up in a beautiful card.  Today I have a few designs that are easy, peasy (but so cute) to put together and hold that gift card.  We made these at our November RubberQueen's meeting as our make'n takes:

This is so versatile that you can use it for any occasion!!

This is what the inside looks like -- I didn't stamp anything because I want to wait until I know what type of occasion I will be using it -- but the gift card just slips into the pocket!!

You can't tell by this picture, but there is a belly-band that slips off so you can insert either cash or gift card.

Something a little different -- the gift card goes in the little envelope (made with the Envelope Punch Board) right on the front of the card and leaves you lots of on the inside for stamping and writing.

And finally, this one uses the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits to hold your message and gift card.

I hope these samples give you some ideas on making cute holders for your gift cards!!  Until next time, Sandi

"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."  --  2 Peter 3:18

A LITTLE BIT OF SCRAPBOOKING

I had a wonderful time at Creative Retreat last weekend.  Ronda Wade and Tamie Ackerson totally spoiled all 60 of us that attended.  The very best thing about going to retreat is spending time with a fabulous bunch of crafters.  I used to be able say "women," but now  say "crafters" because we have one gentleman who has been attending for the last two years.  We had games to play (loved the scavenger hunt), songs to sing, and lots of gifts from Ronda.  We have traditional scrapbookers, Project Life memory keepers, card makers, 3-D crafters, and quilters attending (and I probably forgot a few other crafts).  Let's just put it this way -- the rooms were oozing with artistic talent!!

I spent a little time on my great-granddaughter Hazel's This and That scrapbook album.  A lot of the product I used is discontinued Stampin' Up product that I have hoarded just for my albums -- but everything is Stampin' Up so it all coordinates.  I don't have my pictures of Hazel developed yet but dropped some from my file onto the page (that's why they are a little crooked). Hopefully, these pages will give you some layout inspiration for your own traditional scrapbooking (right-click on the pictures and select "open in new window or tab" to see the details on the pages):

And here is little Hazel a couple of days ago!!

Until next time,
Sandi

"Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed You do." --

1 Thessalonians 5:11